We appreciate the outstanding efforts of the Common Interest Community Board and Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman to develop the Common Interest Community Ombudsman Regulations.

Our comments follow below:

1. These regulations are consistent with the statutory requirements of Title 55 Chapter 29 of the Code of Virginia, including Section 55-530. Powers of the Board; common interest community ombudsman; complaints.

2. It should be pointed out that the complaint procedures set forth in the regulations are not the same as the procedure established by common interest community Board of Directors to handle internal association complaints regarding violations of documents, including the rules and regulations.

3. The requirements of the proposed regulations can be met with reasonable efforts to comply by common interest communities. Some of the comments previously submitted reflect the need for seminars and educational programs designed to address areas of concern to community associations. These programs should focus on the education of association members including officers and directors of those associations. Heather Gillespie, the Ombudsman, has been extremely pro active in this regard, particularly given the limited resources available to the Office of the Ombudsman. Further efforts and adding resources should be made a priority for the Office of the Ombudsman.